New Zealand in Australia 2004-05

Harris shoulders retirement talk

Cricinfo staff

December 9, 2004

The end is nigh? Chris Harris is bowled by Glenn McGrath to end the match and possibly his career © Getty Images

Chris Harris wonders whether his international career ended with a torn rotator cuff at the SCG last night. Harris, who batted in pain at No. 11 as New Zealand desperately chased a series-clinching win, flew to Christchurch today to discover whether surgery was required to fix his right shoulder.

"I hope to play again [this summer] but it's too soon to tell," Harris, who suffered a similar injury playing for Canterbury last season, said. "I landed awkwardly and it popped out - fortunately it went back in but it's not all great news."

Playing his 250th international in his 13th season, Harris, 35, was warming up for his first over when he dived to make a save at midwicket, but ended up heading for hospital instead of his bowling mark. He returned to the dressing room after scans confirmed the tear and was advised not to bat.

But when Kyle Mills began launching sixes an unlikely victory approached and Harris padded up. "We were 40 to 50 away but I thought the momentum was changing a little bit," he said. Daniel Vettori was run out with 26 still needed and Harris walked out to tell Mills: "I'll try and stay there, you've got to win it for us."

"I wanted to look like I was using two hands but it was really only one," he said. The match, and perhaps Harris's career, ended when he was bowled for four by Glenn McGrath.

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